Control system for the adjustable reciprocation of the rollers of hatmakers&#39; feltingmachines



y 8, 1962 F. BRUYERE 3,032,854

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE ADJUSTABLE RECIPROCATION OF THE ROLLERS OF HAT-MAKERS FELTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.

INVENTOR a a 63 7C RE BY ,7. A m-W ATTORNEY F. BRUYERE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR E R E Wanda BR ATTORNEY May 8, 1962 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE ADJUSTABLE RECIPROCATION OF THE ROLLERS 0F HAT-MAKERS FELTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 21, 1959 y 8, 1962 F. BRUYERE 3,032,854

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE ADJUSTABLE RECIPROCATION OF THE ROLLERS OF HAT-MAKERS FELTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.7

INVENTOR Far-u; BR YE BY f w ATTORNEY CONTROL SYSTEM FER THE ADJUSTABLE RE- CIPROCATION OF THE ROLLERS OF HAT- MAKERS FELTING MACHHNES Francis Bruyere, 9 Rue de IHopitai, Chazeiles-sur-Lyon- Loire, France Filed Aug. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 835,318 Claims priority, application France Oct. 8, 1958 11 Claims. (til. 285) It is a well-known fact that the felting machines used in the hat-making industry are chiefly constituted by superposed rows of rotary rollers. Between said rows, felt blanks (also known as laps or bats or sheets of fibres or hair) are fed, so as to work and rub down in all directions the fibres or hair to be felted. This is very important for the grade of the felt, in particular for improving its mechanical resistance and its capacity of being shaped. The felting or rubbing down of the fibres depends directly, as concerns the grade of the resulting felt, on various movements imparted to the rollers in opposite directions or along different paths.

Furthermore, it is a Well-known fact that in addition to their rotary movement, the rollers may be given a reciprocating axial translational movement which may be time-shifted for the different rows with reference to each other and for each of the rollers in each row with reference to the other rollers.

Taking into account the fact that the conical felt blanks pass in succession and several times between the rows of rollers, I have found that it would be particularly important to modify the amplitude of the axial shifting movement of the rollers either while the machine is inoperative or during operation thereof.

My invention relates to a control system for adjusting and modifying as required the amplitude of said axial shifting movement of the rollers with the multiple possibilities of such modifications.

My improved system allows obtaining a considerable diversity and variety in the amplitudes of the axial movements of the rollers and, consequently, a felting providing a high grade felt.

My improved adjustable control system includes for each of thefelting rollers or only for some of the latter a lever-operated control means adapted to act in various manners in accordance with an arrangement which subjects one end of said lever to the reciprocating driving thrust of a cam keyed to a shaft driven by the power unit of the machine, while the other lever end bears on or is pivotally secured to the end of a corresponding roller spindle. The pivotal bearing point through which the lever engages said roller spindle lies at the end of a normally stationary carrier arm, the position of which may be modified and adjusted with reference to the support or frame of the machine. Individual or common control means may be provided for adjusting the position of the carrier arms, so as to modify the position of the bearing points and the ratio between the lever arms, which consequently modifies the amplitude of the axial translational movement of the rollers.

In order to better define the object of my invention, without however limiting its scope, I have illustrated various embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general diagrammatic front view in elevation of a first embodiment, as applied to a felting machine, of which only a part is illustrated.

FIG. 2 is a plan View corresponding to FIG. 1, showing only a number of rollers of one of the rows of the machine. Y

FIG. 3 is a general front View of a second embodiment of my improved system.

3,932,854 Fatented May 8, 1962 ice FIG. 4 is a view as seen from above and partly in cross-section through line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front View of a third embodiment for controlling positively in both directions the reciprocating axial translational movement of the rollers.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view, partly in section through line 65 of FIG. 5.

KG. 7 is a front view of a further embodiment of my improved system.

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified linked pivotal carrier arm for a roller-carrying spindle.

In order to describe my invention, I will refer first to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; said figures showing the following parts of the felting machine: a frame a carrying cradles or bearings b, b1, in which are carried spindles 0, c1, for the superposed rows of rollers d, all. The spindles 0, c1 are driven into rotation through any known means which are not illustrated and which permit the reciprocating axial translational movement of the spindles.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the axial translational movement of any roller provided with such driving means is ensured by a lever 1 which is carried so as to pivot freely about the point 2 of a strap-shaped extension 2 formed on the carrier arm 2. Said carrier arm 2 is secured and keyed to a transverse spindle 3 carried by bearings 4 mounted alongside the frame a. The end L1 of the lever 1 is in contact with a cam 5 which, as it rotates about its spindle 6, imparts a reciprocating pivotal movement to the lever 1. Said cam is keyed to said spindle 6 which is driven by the power unit driving the felting machine. Bearings 7 or like supports carry the spindle 6.

The opposite end 1 of the lever 1 engages an adjustable stop carried at the free end of the spindle c of the corresponding roller d which is to be translationally shifted. In the example illustrated, said stop is constituted by the rounded head of a screw 8 screwed into the end of the spindle c. A nut 9 locks the screw 8 in its adjusted position. A compressed spring 10 is fitted between the cradle b and the nut 9. Said spring provides for the automatic return of the roller d in one translational direction and, thereby, it ensures a permanent contact between the end of the lever and the stop.

For a stationary well-defined position of the pivotal bearing point of the lever 1, it is apparent that the amplitude of the axial translational movement of the roller d is a function of the outline of the cam 5.

However, it is possible to modify the angular position of the carrier arm 2, as shown in dot-and-dash lines for the path of the pivot 2 about the spindle 3 and, thereby, the ratio between the effective lengths 2 -1 and 2 -1 of the arms of lever 1 varies with the location of said pivot 2 This modifies the amplitude of movement of the lever end 1 and the amplitude of the axial translational movement of the roller, depending on the direction and amplitude of the angular shifting of the lever-carrying arm 2.

It is apparent that a very large number of angular positions is possible.

The angular movements of the arm 2 are advantageously controlled by a worm 11 meshing with a wormwheel 12 keyed to the common shaft 3 of the different lever-carrying arms of a row. Said worm, fitted for instance between the frame a and a support 13 (FIG. 2), may be controlled by a hand-wheel 14. This example of an angular shifting of the arm 2 is obviously not given in a limiting sense and any other control system for the angular movements of the arm 2 may be used, without unduly widening the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, there are provided arrangements similar to those which have just been described, While the same reference numbers are used to indicate like parts. The difference between the two embodiments consists in the presence of a permanent pivotable connection between an end of the lever 1 and a head engaging, through the agency of a ball thrust 16, an adjustable stop 17 screwed coaxially into the end of the spindle 6. Thus, said spindle c and the end of the lever 1 are adapted to move translationally in unison, while they are independent as to rotation. It should be remarked that the casing of the ball thrust encloses the enlarged ends of the stop 17 and of the head 15, so as to provide a positive control of the spindle c by the lever 1.

Furthermore, the lever slidingly engages at a point along its length the bottom of a groove in a roller 18 rotating freely in a strap 2 (FIG. 4) forming the end of the lever-carrying arm 2, so that the lever guided between the flanges of the groove in said roller 18 is provided with a tangential pivotal point 1 at the bottom of said groove.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is designed in accordance with the same principle as the preceding embodiment, but the axial reciprocation of the felting rollers is obtained through a permanent connection between the driving and driven members, so that the control thereof is ensured in a positive manner for both directions of movement. No spring is required in this case for returning the felting rollers in one of their directions of translational movement. For this purpose, the lever 19 is connected in a freely pivotable manner at one end 19 to a member 20 cooperating with a cam 21 keyed to the driving spindle 6, so that said member 29 is driven by said cam with a predetermined eccentricity with reference to the spindle 6. The other end 19 of the lever 19 is freely and pivotally connected with the shifting member 22 connected with the spindle c through the agency of a ball thrust 23, the casing of which is rigid with the end of the spindle c carrying a roller d. Consequently, the lever 19 may actuate the roller d reciprocatingly while it is entirely independent of the rotary movement of said roller.

An arm 24 carrying the lever through its pivotal hearing point is keyed as precedingly to a spindle 3 adapted to be angularly shifted together with said arm 24. Arm 24 is provided with a transversely extending bifurcated head 24 in which is formed longitudinal slots 24. engaged by a pivot 26 forming a pivotal bearing point for the lever 19. Nuts 27 (FIG. 6) allow the locking of the pivot 26 in the adjusted position selected for it inside the slots 24 The lever 19 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 19 which allows the shiftiru of the lever as required by its pivotal connection at both ends, the shifting of the lever allowing its desired adjustment through the angular displacement of the arm 24.

By reason of the multiplicity of positions which may be occupied by the arm 2 (FIGS. 1 to 4) or 24 (FiGS. 56), it is apparent that a very large range is provided for the amplitude of the axial reciprocations to be as sumed by the rollers cl, oil. it is possible to adjust the relative extent and timing of the axial translational move ments of the different rollers through a combined adjustment of the stops such as 8 (FIGS. 1, 2) or 17 (FIGS. 3, 4) or else, by an individual adjustment of the different pivots 26 (FIGS. 5, 6).

The execution and the mounting of the carrier arm 2 or 24 is not dificult and it is easy to shift said arm angularly, so as to shift the location of the pivoting bearing point of the lever. in FIG. 7, to adjust the location of the pivotal point 13 through a rectilinearshifting of a carrier arm 28 to the end of which is fitted the point 2 or the roller 1% (H88. 3, 4) or the like pivotal bearing point, as the case may be. Said rectilinear adjustment is allowed by fitting the It is also possible, as illustrated.

arm 28 in one or more slideways 29 inside which it is held and guided. A control system of any known type including a handwheel 30 and a worm allows shifting and adjusting in the direction of the arrow F the carrier arm 28 with the pivotal bearing point of the corresponding lever to thereby modify the amplitude of reciprocating movement of its corresponding roller.

A number of carrier arms 28 may be distributed alongside the felting machine, each carrying a pivot 2 forming the pivotal bearing point for a lever 1 or 19.

A modified embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 takes into account the fact that, in the embodiments of FIGS. l6 the angular shifting of the arm 2 or 24 shifts the pivotal bearing point 2 or 1 or 26, not only longitudinally to modify the ratio between the lever arms, but also orthogonally or transversely thereto in the direction of axial reciprocation of the roller-carrying spindles c, 0 This results in a compression of the springs 10 by an amount which may be exaggerated for a large amplitude of pivotal movement and be thereby detrimental to proper operation. In order to cut out this drawback, as shown in FIG. 8, the arm carrying the pivotal bearing point 2 for each lever includes two sections 2 and 2 pivotally secured together at 2 One of said sections is keyed to the spindle 3, while the other section carries the pivot 2 of the lever 1. A spring 31 is hooked under tensioned conditions between the sections 2 and 2 and urges them towards each other about pivot 2 Said spring is suitably gauged, so as to be less powerful than the spring 10 and to ensure the required interconnection between the two sections 2 and 2 when angularly shifted with the spindle 3, while allowing a slight pivotal motion of the section 2 with reference to the section 2 when the compression of the spring 16 reaches a value which is too large during the angular shifting of the arms 2 2 Said controlled pivotal movement of the section 2 prevents or limits automatically the transverse shifting of the pivotal bearing point of the lever.

The arrangements disclosed hereinabove with reference to the accompanying drawings as applicable to all the rollers of a predetermined row are obviously applicable in a similar manner to the rollers of any higher or lower row which may be incorporated with the felting machine. As concerns the uppermost row of rollers, which may be adjustable vertically, the adjustable control system for the amplitude of reciprocatory movement may be used again in the same manner. The arrangement is generally mounted on the opposite side of the machine and the levers l and 19 have, in this case, the length required for cooperation with the ends of the corresponding spindles.

It is also possible to cut out the lever-operated control means for certain rollers to prevent their assuming any axial reciprocation, whereby a diversification is obtained for the relative movements of the rollers, which improves the felting of the felt articles in all directions.

It is readily apparent that many variants are available for the adjustment of the reciprocatory axial translationl movements of the rollers, both when the felting machine is at a standstill and when it is operative and, consequently, this leads to a considerable improvement in the felting treatment and, therefore, in the grade of the felts thus treated.

Obviously, and as apparent from the preceding disclosure, my invention is by no means limited to the embodiments and applications of the .system and of its various parts which have been described/and these may be modified to a wide extent within the scope of the ac companying claims.

Whatl claim is:-

1. In combination with a felting machine for use inthe hat-making industry including a felting roller carried by a longitudinally shiftable spindle, a control system for the longitudinal reciprocation of said roller-carrying spine die, when said machine is at rest and in operation, comprising a lever pivotable around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, said lever having two arms extending respectively from said axis, one on each side thereof, one of said arms engaging said spindle at the end thereof, a cam rotatable around an axis parallel with the pivotal axis of said lever, the other arm of said lever engaging said cam, said lever being rocked by said cam, said lever controlling through a point the free end of the cooperating roller-carrying spindle to subject the latter to an axial shifting in at least one direction of movement, means urging said spindle back after said shifting, means controlled in unison with the machine for driving the cam, and means for shifting the pivotal axis of said lever in a vertical plane passing through said lever and through the spindle axis cooperating there with, to modify thereby the ratio between the lever arms engaging respectively the cam and the spindle end.

2. In combination with a felting machine for use in the hat-making industry including a plurality of rows of felting rollerscarried by parallel spindles shiftable longitudinally, a control system for the longitudinal reciprocation of said roller-carrying spindles, when said machine is at rest and in operation, comprising, for each of said spindles, a lever pivotally carried between its ends around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, a cam rotatable around an axis parallel with the pivotal axis of the lever and controlling the latter at one end thereof to rock said lever, said lever engaging through its other end the free end of the cooperating roller-carrying spindle to subject the latter to an axial shifting in at least one direction of movement, means yieldingly urging the spindle back after said movement, means for shifting the pivotal axis of the lever in a vertical plane passing through said lever and through the spindle axis cooperating therewith, to modify thereby the ratio between the ends of the lever engaging respectively the cam and the spindle end, and means controlled in unison with the machine for driving the cams of said roller-carrying spindles.

3. In combination with a felting machine for use in the hat-making industry including rows of felting rollers carried by parallel spindles shiftable longitudinally, a control system for the longitudinal reciprocation of said roller-carrying spindles when said machine is at rest and in operation, comprising, for each of said spindles, a lever pivotally secured around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, a cam rotatable around an axis parallel with the pivotal axis of the lever and controlling the latter at one end thereof to rock said lever, said lever engaging through its other end the free end of the cooperating roller-carrying spindle to subject the latter to an axial shifting in at least one direction of movement, means urging the spindle back after said movement, a carrier arm engaging said lever at a point defining its pivotal axis, means for angularly adjusting the position of said arm in a vertical plane parallel with the axis of the spindle and with the lever to thereby adjust the ratio between the ends of the lever engaging respectively the cam and the spindle end, and means controlled in unison with the machine for driving the cams of said rollercarrying spindles.

4. In combination with a felting machine for use in the hat-making industry including rows of felting rollers carried by parallel spindles shiftable longitudinally, a control system for the longitudinal reciprocation of at least one of said roller-carrying spindles, when said machine is at rest and in operation, comprising, for each of said spindles, a pivot perpendicular to the spindle axis, a lever rockably carried by said pivot, an arm rigid with said pivot and shiftable adjustably in a vertical plane containing the lever and the corresponding roller-carrying spindle, a cam rotatable arond an axis parallel with the pivotal axis of the lever and controlling the latter to rock one end of said lever, said lever engaging through its other end the free end of the cooperating roller-canying the machine for driving the cam.

5. In combination with a felting machine for use in the hat-making industry including rows of felting rollers carried by parallel spindles shiftable longitudinally, a control system for the longitudinal reciprocation of said roller-carrying spindles, when said machine is at rest and in operation, comprising for each spindle: a pivot perpendicular to the spindle 'axis, a lever rockably carried by said pivot, an arm rigid with said pivot, a rod extending in parallelism with the pivot axis for the spindle associated with the lever and around which the corresponding pivot-carrying arm is adjustably shiftable in the plane containing the lever and the corresponding roller-carrying spindle, a cam rotatable about an axis parallel with the pivotal axis of the lever and controlling freely one end of the latter to rock said lever, an adjustable abutment at the outer end of the roller-carrying spindle engaging the other end of the lever to be subjected by the latter to an axial shifting in at least one direction of movement, a spring urging saidspindle back after said movement and means controlled in unison with the machine for driving the cams of said roller-carrying spindles.

6. In combination with a felting machine for use in the hat-making industry including rows of felting rollers carried by parallel spindles shiftable longitudinally, a control system for the longitudinal reciprocation of said roller-carrying spindles, when said machine is at rest and in operation, comprising levers, each coacting with a spindle and pivotally secured around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, and for each lever parallel with the pivotal axis of the lever and controlling the latter to rock said lever, a pivotal connection between the lever and the free end of the cooperating spindle in-i cluding a ball thrust and incorporating means for adjustably spacing the lever and spindle end to subject the latter to an axial shifting in at least one direction of movement, a spring urging said spindle back after said movement, means for shifting the pivotal axis of said lever in a vertical plane passing through said lever and through the spindle axis cooperating therewith, and means controlled in unison with the machine for driving the cams of said roller-carrying spindles.

7. In combination with a felting machine for use in the hat-making industry including a plurality of rows of felting rollers carried by parallel spindles shiftable longitudinally, a control system for the longitudinal reciprocation of said roller-carrying spindle, when said machine is at rest and in operation, comprising for each spindle: a slotted lever engaging the free end of the corresponding roller-carrying spindle, an arm pivotally carried around an axis lying in the plane of the lever perpendicularly to the axis of the spindle and angularly adjustable around said axis, said arm including a transversely elongated slotted head, a pivot slidingly engaging the slot in said lever and adjustably secured in the slot of the elongated head of the corresponding arm, a cam rotatable around an axis parallel with the pivotal axis of the lever and controlling the latter to rock said lever, connecting members pivotally connecting the ends of the lever respectively with the control cam and with the free end of the corresponding spindle to subject the latter to an axial shifting in at least one direction of movement, and to urge said spindle back after said movement, and means controlled in unison with the machine for driving the cams of said rollercarrying spindles.

8. In combination with a felting machine for use in the hat-making industry including rows of felting rollers carried by parallel spindles adapted to be shifted longitudinally, a control system for the longitudinal reciprocation of said roller-carrying spindles, when said machine is at rest and in operation, comprising levers, each pivotally secured around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal V axes of the spindles, for each lever, a cam rotatable around an axis parallel with the pivotal axis of the lever and controlling the latter to rock said lever, said lever engaging through a point the free end of a cooperating rolleracarrying spindle to subject the latter to an axial shifting in at least one direction of movement, means urging said spindle back after said movement, an angularly shiftable carrier arm engaging said lever at a point defining its pivotal axis, a worm gear controlling the angular movement of said carrier arm, means controlling said worm gear and means controlled in unison With the machine for driving the cams of said roller-carrying spindles.

9. In combination with a felting machine for use in the hat-making industry including rows of felting rollers carried by parallel spindles shiftable longitudinally, when said machine is at rest and in operation, a control system for the longitudinal reciprocation of said rollercarrying spindles comprising for each spindle: a stationary pivot perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, an arm adjustably shiftable around said pivot, a grooved pulley rotatably secured to said arm around an axis parallel with the pivotal axis ofsaid arm, a lever slidingly engaging the groove of said pulley to define the pivotal axis of the lever through its points of contact with the groove, a cam rotatable around an axis parallel With the pivotal axis of the lever and controlling the latter to'rock said lever, said lever engaging through a point the free end of the cooperating rollercarrying spindle to subject the latter to an axial shifting in at least one direction of movement, means urging said spindle back after said movement, and means controlled in unison with the machine for driving the cams of said roller-carrying spindles.

10; In combination with a felting machine, including a plurality of parallel rows of felting rollers carried by parallel spindles, said spindles being shittable longitudinaliy, a control system for the simultaneous reciprocation, when said machine is at rest and in operation, of a plurality of said roller-carrying spindles in the different rows including, for each spindles a lever pivotally secured around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, a cam rotatable around an axis parallel with the pivotal axis of the lever and controlling back after said rnovement, means for shifting the pivotal axis of said lever in a vertical plane passing through said lever and through the spindle axis cooperating therewith, and means controlled in unison with the machine for driving the cams of said roller-carrying spindles.

11. In combination with a machine for use in the hat-making industry including rows of felting rollers carried by parallel spindles shiftable longitudinally, a control systernfor thelongitudinal reciprocation of said roller-carrying spindles, when said machine is at rest and in operation, comprising for each spindle: a lever pivotally secured around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, a cam adapted to rotate about an axis parallel with the pivotal axis of the lever and controlling the latter to rock said lever, said lever engaging through a point the free end of the cooperating rollercarrying spindle to subject the latter to an axial shifting in at least one direction of movement, a spring urging said spindle back, after said movement, a carrier arm engaging said lever at a point defining its pivotal axis and means for angularly adjusting the position of said arm in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the spindle and through the lever, said carrier arm including two pivotally interconnected sections the outer'ends of which are respectively adaped to pivot around a stationary axis perpendicular to the spindle axis and to pivotally engage the lever a weak spring interconnecting said sections, and means controlled in unison with the machine for driving the cams of said roller-carrying spindles.

References Cited in the fiie of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTSv Great Britain Ian. 5, 1955 

